15 posts tagged “music”

Went to a concert this evening. An amazing, brilliant concert. One of my very favourite artists - Tom McRae, and I think he is soo incredibly underrated. He has released 4 absolutely brilliant albums, and still he's mostly unknown. His texts are so quietly powerful it's amazing. He's popular in Norway, and he keeps coming back here - he's been here twice this year - and we keep inviting him back. The concert tonight was one of the best concerts of his I've been to, he brought me to tears a couple of times with just his songs.
this song was the opening act, and is one of those songs that instantly spoke to me. Love this song. It's from his newest album called King of cards:

First time I saw Tom live was at a music festival in Oslo. The festival is called "Norwegian Wood" and Tom had just released his first album. I remember it was a lovely day - and I sat in the sun on the grass with a very good friend of mine chatting through one of those boring concerts - I think it was some American band - quite famous as far as I remember. It was just uninspired and too much noise. I think they had 10-12 musicians on stage, and dragged the songs out to the unrecognizable. Too noisy, too unstructured, and no fun listening to. My ears was tired after just a couple of songs. So my friend and I talked through most the concert - as did most people around us. we clapped loudly when they left stage.
Then some people came on stage to clear up after this huge band and rig for the next concert. The stage was almost empty - a mikestand, a stool, and a small drum set. That was it. then this small guy comes on with a guitar - and I remember thinking he was one of the sound crew. I thought he was going to test for the next act. Turns out he WAS the next act. It was Tom McRae. after him a guy with a cello sits down on the stool, and a guy sits by the drum set, Tom starts singing and the whole festival area is dead quiet - enchanted by this quiet voice with the most powerful lyrics. I was completely enraptured. Magic

As soon as I could after that first concert I bought his album. I now own three of four albums - and guess what I'm doing tomorrow? yep - I'm running to the shop to buy his latest CD.
I love this guy and his music.

Thanks, Tom, for yet another amazing concert.

Video: Show us a music video you'd gladly watch over and over again.

three songs I seem never to grow tired of.

I am going to attempt to drag myself out of blog hibernation. I miss blogging. I miss having a place to write down thoughts. It's not that I haven' t posted at all these past four months, but my blogging has been very random. It'll still be random I suppose, since we now are starting the most intense period at work. But I will still have time for this. I want this. So I'll make time.

I know I have been listing a lot of music already, and only a couple of days ago too... But I came over a few songs worthy of a new post. I do listen a lot to music usually. Lately I have mostly listened to soppy lovesongs, but those days are gone. Not that I won't listen to them any more - I will, but not ONLY soppy lovesongs. *lol* So what I did yesterday was bring my hardrive with 67GB music to work, and randomly started playing music I haven't listened to in a while.

 I started with Ella Fitzgerald. I figured Ella was a good place to ease my way into the world of music again. Don't you just LOVE Ella?? She was a genious. And I started with her since I found her "cry me a river" on YouTube. I was once again hooked.

I have a CD recorded at a concert she did with Duke Ellington in Stockholm in 1966 that I really love. And imagine I had forgotten all about it! Shame shame shame. As I listened to the CD two random thougths popped up in my mind:

1. It sounds like she's smiling when she sings. You can hear from the way she sings she is REALLY enjoying what she does. Ok - so it takes a little edge off the sad songs, but it is a joy to listen to. She had the most wonderful voice, impeccable pronounciation and the deep deep love for her work, and that is just a couple of all the reasons why I love her music.

2. Boy can she scat! She must be the best scat singers ever. Listen to this version of cottontail from the Stockholm concert and you get an idea.

After listening to Ella's album three times at work, I was on my way of getting into the same pattern as I have been for the past four months - just let the music repeat, and in the end it just becomes background noise. And I just can't do that to Ella. So I thought I'd go on a different path music wise. Portishead. oh yes. It's been soooo long since I listened to them. Yes - right mood for work. And I'm in heaven when Glory Box starts playing. Beth Gibbon's voice is so haunting, and she drag you into her songs - leaves you no choice but to listen. The wonderful mix between house, jazz, electronica, hip hop and Beth Gibbon's voice make Portishead one of my very favorite bands. This band was also the band that introduced me to the electronica and Trip hop genres, which later became

the music scene I feel most at home in. (bands/artists like

Thievery Corporation, Massive Attack, Tricky, Björk, Sigur Ros, Morcheeba, Lamb and Beth Orton)

Then - when listening to Portishead - still remembering Ella, for some reason I remember Subatomic Sound System. Don't ask me why... I can understand sort of why I could think of them while listening to Portishead. SSS are an electronica based band. Maybe I conneccted it with Ella because of the playfulness? For some reason I have the instrumental version of their album "On All Frequencies" which is a great mix of again house and jazz, but add to it a big dash of reggae, and drum 'n' bass in addition a whole range of other genres. These guys are not afraid to mix beats and are influenced by anything that can be called music. the link I have provided for SSS you can listen to more of their songs - both instrumental and original cd. WELL worth a listen!

All in all three very different artists, but I still see similarities. And I love the diversity in music!

The months sure go by fast when you're having fun! Seems the only thing I keep doing except living in my own little bubble is listen to music. So here's the selection of songs for April in random order:

1. Laura - Release Me. Another YouTube discovery. It's used in a Saab ad in case you were wondering if you've heard it before.
2. Alanis Morissette - That I Would Be Good. There's periods of my life I listen a lot to Alanis. I seem to get back to her a lot. the last really big Alanis period was when I was finishing my thesis at the university. This song remains one of my favorites.
3. Indigo Girls - I Believe in Love. Ain't that the truth! :) How can one not believe in love?
4. great song from a nice band. Haven't listened a lot to Indigo Girls, but after "discovering" this song, I'll check out more of their songs.
5. 

   Die Elephanten-02-A Lazy B
   Die Elephanten - A Lazy B. Reminds me of my girlfriend. She was the one to introduce this song to me, and I've since listened to it over and over. It's a great tune. Instrumental electronica.
6. De Phazz - No Jive. Am still in a Jazz mood. Don't think I'll get out of it. I like this song - it's a upbeat jazz electronica fusion that I fell in love with. I guess it falls into the category of chillout sort of?
7. Faith Hill - Beautiful. Sentimental song for me. :)
8. Placebo - Protege Moi. Placebo is one of the bands I have recently (as in within the last year) discovered, and I listen to their songs when walking. One of the bands my SO and I don't have in common :)
9. Annie Lennox - A Whiter Shade of Pale. perfect mood setter for a quiet dinner for two.
10. Ella Fitzgerald - Cry Me a River. I love Ella. What's not to love? I could have listed a lot of her songs here, but this is the one that has been on repeat on my stereo lately. Don't really know why. The version I've linked here is absolutely wonderful. She totally owns that song from the first note. Live performance. oh and just love her laugh! :)
11. Kiss - I Was Made for Lovin' You. One of the songs that'll make me dance wherever whenever. Crank up the volume and shake that booty!

Seems like all I have to share with you is my music lists. I love music, and no matter how busy I am I always listen to a lot of music. So here's the list of songs that have been playing a lot the past month. (I have listened a lot to some of the songs from the past two lists too, but ofcourse I'm not going to list those again...)

1. Katrina & The Waves - Walking on Sunshine. It is spring in Oslo. I am in love. I need happy songs. I don't know any song that makes me feel happier than this one. I just want to dance whenever I hear this one.
2. Tom Waits - A little drop of poison. This song is from Shrek 2. I just love that film, and I love Tom Waits. Tom waits as depressed Captain Hook playing the piano one-hand-and-one-hook in a dark smokey pub is priceless.
3. Trinah - Lets stay together. This is a cover of Al Green's song. I love this newer version of this classic. I do like Al Green's version too - it's a great song, but right now I prefer this one.
4. Javier Navarrete - Long, long time ago. From the film Pan's Labyrinth that I finally got around to see. Loved is so much I bought the soundtrack at once, downloaded it, and this track haunted me. Have been playing it over and over.
5. Terra Naomi - Go Quietly. I found this song on You Tube, and have since played it many times. Can't get hold of her cd, but will keep looking. Love her songs - "Close to your head", "mama", and "Say it's Possible". Up and coming young star.
   

   Massive Attack - angel
6. Beth Heart - Leave the light on. Raw, engaging, bluesy rock. Amazing artist.
7. Pergolesi - Stabat Mater. Classical music. Powerful choir music, music to get lost in.
8. Massive Attack - Angel. One of my all time favorites. I get lost whenever hearing this song - or any other song from the album Mezzanine. I close my eyes, and no one can get my attention until the song is over.
9. Cardigans - Erase. Rewind. I really like this Swedish band. Ever since their hit single from the film Romeo and Juliet from 1996 I've liked them. This song has been on my playlist for the past month. Actually chosen quite randomly since there are a number of songs from the Cardigans I like.
10. Jesse Cook - Cancion Triste. Spanish guitar. Sooo relaxing and nice. :) And it brings back memories too.

1. 

   The Pointer Sisters - I'm So Excited

   1 comment
    Cesaria Evora - Besame Mucho. Cesaria Evora captured my heart with this song. I've heard countless versions of this beautiful song, but to me this version is the best one. she has this amazing voice, and sings with such intensity it's hard not to be touched.
2. Sarah McLachlan - I love you. I love McLachlan's voice too. Sappy Love song, but oh so beautiful. And nothing is better to listen to than sappy love songs when you are in love.
3. REM - drive. REM is one of my favorite bands, and I've listened to them a lot for the better part of 15 years. I like the older stuff best, pre "Automatic for the people" preferably, but AFTP is the best album I think. And Drive has always been one of my absolute favorite songs.
4. Madrugada - Shine. Madrugada never escapes my lists I think. Shine is from the first album "Industrial Silence", and was one of the first songs I fell in love with. First time I heard that album I was stunned. Hooked. and have been ever since.
5. Joss Stone - I've fallen in love with you. Joss Stone is one of the BIG voices of our time. Only 16 she totally blew me away with her voice and interpretations of old Soul Classics on the album "Soul Sessions", which still remain one of my all time favorite soul albums. Right up there with Aretha Franklin - and that's saying something about her voice on that album. She has later developed a "post Mariah syndrome" though not too prominent luckily. Let's hope she manages to stay away from that.
6. Paulo Nutini - These Streets. Up and coming young Scottish artist with Italian roots. This song is straight forward man with guitar pop song, but it is catchy - at least to me.
7. Oscar Lopez - Loving you. I have been listening a lot to guitar classics at Sky.fm lately. I love that radio. I listen to it while being on line. It is a good alternative sometimes to listen to music I don't have in my own library. And to get to know new music I want to buy. Like this song. I also have listened to some of the other radios at Sky.fm
8. Pointer Sisters - I'm so Excited. Classic happy-song. And since I am very happy these days - this song fits me. I feel like dancing whenever I hear this one.
9. Bach's Air. I have also had a classical music period in February. I get those once in a while, and I love Bach. Air is perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
10. Lighthouse Family - Happy. Another good happy, feel-good song.

these are tracks I'v been listening a lot to this month.

1. Luz Casal - Un ano de amor. I just find this song very haunting in a way. Very romantic. And I have good memories to this song.

2. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars. Another romantic song. I've come to really like Snow Patrol's album "Eyes Open" and have made me more curious of their other albums. It's one of the bands I want to listen more to.

3. Damien Rice - Amie. straight forward pop I guess, and not to complicated song. I'm learning to play it on my guitar, so it's not complicated at all... lol It's the kind of music I don't expect I'll remember in a year or two, but for now it's good. I could also have mentioned his song Cannonball for this list.

4. Madrugada - Step into this room and dance for me. Now Madrugada. Where to start. Those of you who have read my blog a while knows my relationship to Madrugada. I love them. Pure and simple. I love the voice of Sivert Høyem, the vokalist. The sound of Madrugada is melancholy rock, and some of their songs are really haunting.

5. Grandadbob - mmmnn. A very sexy song to me. I haven't heard anything else by this band, but this song is kind of Triphop/dance category, and I think that's the category they operate in in general.

6. Incubus - drive. Incubus is an alternative rock band, and might be a well known band to y'all. I love this song.

7. Gotan Project - Celos. Gotan Project is another favorite band of mine. The first album - "La revancha del Tango" is absolutely brilliant. Celos is from their third album released last year called "lunatico". They're a french band playing electronica tango. "La Revancha Del Tango" album is easily in my top ten list of best albums.

8. Stan Getz & jose Gilberto - Corcovado. Bossanova classic. I love listening to Stan Getz - I also have an album he made with Bill Evans I've been playing a lot lately. I've actually been listening a lot to Jazz in general this month, but this is the one I've been repeating most. So that's why it made my list.

9. Vangelis - losing sleep (be still my heart). Now Vangelis should be well known - his music to the films Blade Runner and 1493 - Conquest of Paradise are both brilliant (Blade runner the best one in my opinion. Didn't really like the film all that much, but the music is brilliant). It's quiet, slow music that's good to play in the background. This song I've played a lot, because I have too been losing a lot of sleep too this month.

10. Edit Piaf - sous le ciel de Paris. "the sparrow". I love the intensity and rawness of her singing. And this song has haunted me this month.

 

All very sappy, romantic songs. Most of them anyways. I must be in a romantic mood I guess? ;)

I went to a concert last night. It was a charity concert for children in Afghanistan, and one of my absolute favorite

bands played. Madrugada. Did I need to tell you that was the band, Laura?? Lol

Two other bands played too, so I didn't get a full Madrugada experience, but boy the wait was worth while. It is soo cool that they dont' do anything half hearted. When they're on that stage it's all or nothing. Even if they're only playing for 45 minutes. They ended the concert with my absolute favorite song called "Majesty" - an accoustic version which totally blew me away. I love the accoustic versions of this song!

here is the original version. I like this version too ofcourse...

 

Oh - and Sivert Høyem - the vocalist of Madrugada is releasing his second solo album today. I really look forward to listening to it. They're playing one of the songs on the radio these days, and I really like it. I love his voice..

Books, movies, music; what's in your top 5 right now?

Books:

1. Pride & Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. The little prince - Antoine de Saint Exupery

3. Wind up bird chronicles - Haruki Murakami

4. The Tibetan book of living and dying - Sogyal Rinpoche

5. Phillip Pullman's "The Dark Materials" trilogy

 

Movies:

1. Star Wars IV-VI

2. Any of Tim Burton's films

3. Tristram Shandy - A Cock and Bull Story

4. The Hours

5. Girl with a pearl earring

 

Music:

1. REM

2. Led Zeppelin

3. Linkin Park

4. Madrugada

5. Frou Frou

I don't really like Wednesday. It's not in the beginning of the week, it's not at the end of the week. It's limbo land. It's especially hard to get out of bed on Wednesdays, and today was definitely no different from any other wednesday. Ofcourse it didn't help that I had an early morning meeting with this economy-guy from the university to go through my routines when it comes to money at work.
That, and the fact that it's still pitch black outside when my alarmclock rings, made it nearly impossible to get out of bed. I spent at least half an hour waking up, and I bet I hit the snooze button at least 5-6 times before getting out of bed. Oh and another reason why it's so difficult in general to get out of bed these days is that I sleep with the window open, and these days it's close to freezing point during the night. I think the temperature is 2-6 degrees C at night now. And it's SOOO warm and cosy in my bed. Let's just say it doesn't get any easier to get up in the morning. And even after I haul myself out of bed I spend half an hour in the bathroom just waking up. I don't think I'm totally awake until I'm actually on my way out of the door - after breakfast, shower, brushing teeth etc. It's a wonder I don't put on my clothes inside out. There's not much chance of mismatching my clothes since I have an all-black wardrobe. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if I came to work with my clothes on backwards or inside out. It hasn't happened yet, but it's just a matter of time...

of course the economy guy was satisfied with my routines, and stayed only for 15 minutes. What a waste! I could have explained it all over the phone, and faxed him the copies he wanted. But at least it got me to work on time...
Wednesdays are kind of quiet at work too, and I was bored a lot of the time today. Until I discovered this game. It's totally addictive - I warn you! It killed a couple of hours at work... I finally figured it out though. And I tried out all the other small games at this page.

There's three things I HAVE to have at work. 1. my computer - with internet - or I would be bored to death. 2. Ginger tea. Since I don't drink coffee any more I need another pick-me-up and I found that Ginger tea is great for that! In addition to having the same effect as coffee, it tastes good, it helps prevent colds and it's warm! It's still freezing cold at work - they didn't manage to fix the boiler, so my radiator is still cold. brrrr! 3. My extra harddrive containing 60GB music. I'm addicted to music, and can't survive a day at work without music. But isn't it strange that even with all that music I still can't seem to find anything I'd like to listen to? at least that was the case today. So I listened to the radio instead...

The day ended really good, though. The weather when I finished work was great, and I decided to skip going to the meditation centre, and walk home instead. As I forgot my camera today, I'm posting photos I took a couple of weeks ago. They show a few of the places I pass when walking home from work. The first photo is a little pond with a white wooden bridge over it, and it's a part of the summer residence of the former King. Noone but the royal family is allowed in there, so I just took a picture through the fence. I just love that spot, and would've loved walking there... The second is a 1000 year old church which is part of the museum next to where I work. It's called Gol Stavkirke (The Stavechurch from Gol), and is one of my favorite buildings at that museum. I used to work as a guide in that museum a few years ago, and I still miss working there. The last photo is closer to the city even though you can't see the city. Walk for about 20 minutes from here and you're in the middle of town. Pretty amazing, huh? The water you see is part of the Oslo fjord.

And then I rounded up the day with this film:

It's a really sweet Japanese anime film I saw for the first time a month or so ago, and I fell in love with it. It's a great story about two sisters and their father moving to a new house while their mother is in the hospital. The video is the song from the film as played on Japanese MTV..